When Russia launched a missile from Earth that destroyed an old Soviet satellite on Nov. 15, the explosion created thousands of pieces of debris — a virtual cloud of bullets — that will spread through near-Earth orbit or fall to the ground.
This is a serious risk to astronauts, telecommunications satellites and other critical space systems, including even Russia’s own.
The test was a thoughtless exercise that will intensify the race to militarize space. And it added to the growing cloud of debris that, in the next few years, is expected to double the number of "avoidance maneuvers” satellite operators will be forced to undertake.